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Chapter 11: Convince Me...

I stood around the tents listening to everyone voice their concerns on the Randall situation.

"So what are you gonna do? We'd all feel better if we knew the plan" Lori said crouching down in front of the fire.

"Is there a plan?" Andrea spoke up.

"We gonna keep him here?" Glenn asked hesitantly.

"We'll know soon enough" Rick said looking back to the shed.

That's when I noticed Daryl walking back, crossbow over his shoulder, his knuckles bloody. He looked to Rick then round the group.

"Boy there's got a gang, thirty men. They have heavy artillery and they ain't looking to make friends. They roll through here, our boys are dead. And our women, they're gonna" he hesitated looking at me "They're gonna wish they were."

There was a look in his eyes, that what he last said was more in reference to my attack outside the stables. Was Randall the one or was it one of his group. My mind shut down and I stopped listening to the conversation after that. I turned and walked back to the tent. I grabbed my bow and carried on walking not even paying attention to where I was going. I got half way through one of the paddocks, when I realised my stupidly for going off alone. I turned only to see Daryl trailing me twenty feet back. I hadn't heard him, although I really hadn't been paying attention to anything.

"You ok?" he asked concerned.

I shrugged my shoulders "Just trying to process" I said flatly.

"I don't think it was him who attacked ya. But sounds like somethin' their group would do. Little bastard even told me bout how they found a father and his two teenage girls..." he trailed off, probably from the look on my face.

"I figured as much when ya looked at me." A few flashes of the attack springing forth in my mind. I shook my head, getting rid of the memories.

"So is that why your knuckles are all bloody?" I said pointing to them. He looked down at them and nodded once. I frowned a little.

"Sorry I walked off" I mumbled looking down at my feet.

"Ya needed space, I get that."

"Thank you" I whispered. I had been so used to him blowing up at me, his reaction surprised me a little but for once he understood.

Daryl nodded, then looked back to camp. "C'mon" he said.

We walked back slowly towards the camp. I would see him glance over at me every few steps. I stopped walking, he halted beside me.

"What?' he asked sighing. He looked confused.

"You keep looking at me, like I'm about to bolt" I said raising an eyebrow.

He shook his head and continued walking. "C'mon" he called.

I caught up with him. I saw him smile out of the corner of my eye.

Back at camp it was a bit tense. The few that were there looked up at me, looks of pity and sadness on their faces.

"I'm gonna go find Rick" Daryl said to me, giving me a long look before walking away. Lori came over to me.

"You ok hun?" she asked putting a hand on my shoulder.

"Yeah it was just a bit of a shock" I said sighing. "Do you need help with the laundry?" I asked trying to change the subject.

She smiled, "Yeah that would be helpful."

"I'll just go gather some more laundry." I said walking back to the tent. I lay my bow down on my blanket. I grabbed what dirty clothes I had and shoved them into a plastic bag. I looked over to Daryl's stuff, a few dirty sleeveless flannel top lay in the corner, some socks and jeans. I shoved them in too. I didn't think he would complain about clean clothes.

I sat next to Carol near the camp-fire. Lori came back with two buckets of water. Carol emptied one of the buckets in the bin I was sitting in front of. Lori doing the same to hers. We sat in silence for a bit before they both started asking questions about my old life. I talked about my friends and family and they shared some of their stories. As we talked it made me forget about recent events. It felt almost normal. Except for the fact that I was doing laundry by hand, god I missed washing machines.

Dale wandered over to us, a look of concern on his face.

"I came to talk about Randall" he said looking between each of us. "I think we should talk to him before the group decides to cast him out. Just because of how Rick came upon him, doesn't mean we should condemn him" he pleaded.

"Or he could run back to his group and bring them here" Carol said.

"Camille?" Dale asked a little harshly.

I shrugged my shoulders, "I don't know...I mean it could have been him or one of his group that attacked me, I don't know if it was...I'm honestly not sure who to agree with" I said sadly, going back to the laundry in front of me.

"He deserves a chance!" Dale pleaded again.

"We'll think about it" Carol said, forcing a smile.

Dale looked unconvinced, he shook his head and walked away. I watched as he walked away, feeling a little guilty.

Most of the group had gathered in the living room of the farmhouse. Tension was thick around the room.

"Let's gather up" Rick called.

I kept my eyes to the floor as I stood in front of Daryl. It was silent for a minute.

"So how do we do this? Just take a vote?" Glenn asked.

"Does it have to be unanimous?" Andrea spoke.

"How about majority rules?" Lori softly said.

"Well let's...let's just see where everybody stands, then we can talk through the options." Rick said in his authoritative tone.

"Well, where I sit, there's only one way to move forward" Shane said from behind Andrea.

"Killing him right" Dale said angrily, "I mean, why even bother to take a vote? It's clear which way the wind's blowing" he said as he looked round at the group.

My heart broke for him pleading for this kid's life. I understood what he was asking but if Randall or one of his group were the one who attacked me then I couldn't take the chance. My mind skipped over the attack again, I screwed my eyes shut and silently wished the nightmarish images would disappear. I was bought out of it by Daryl, his hand gently squeezing my hip, I turned my head a little to see him out of the corner of my eye and tried to smile, then turned my head back. He held his hand there for a few more seconds before dropping it. I tuned back into the debate.

"This is a young man's life, and its worth more than a five minute conversation!" Dale said raising his voice. "Is this what it's come to? We kill someone because we can't decide what else to do with him? You saved him and now look at us" he said looking to Rick. Rick kept his face neutral. "He's been tortured. He's gonna be executed. How are we any better than those people that we're afraid of?"

"We all know what needs to be done" Shane said impatiently.

"No. Dale is right. We can't leave any stone unturned here" Rick said almost defensively.

"We have a responsibility" Lori said looking to Shane. Who was now looking more pissed off by the minute.

"So what's the solution?" Andrea interrupted.

"Let Rick finish" Lori said scolding Andrea.

"We haven't come up with a single viable option yet. I wish we could." Andrea said looking round the room.

"So lets work on it" Dale said exasperated.

"We are" Rick said aggravated.

"Stop it!" Carol said loudly, "Just stop it. I'm sick of everybody arguing and fighting. I didn't ask for this. You can't ask us to decide something like this" she looked round the room, finally resting on Rick. "Please decide...either of you, both of you but leave me out."

"Not speaking out or killing him yourself, there's no difference." Dale retorted.

"All right, that's enough" Rick said throwing his hands out in front of him to try and calm the situation. "Anybody who wants the floor before we make a final decision, has the chance" Rick said making a point to catch everyone's eyes.

"You once said that we don't kill the living" Dale said trying to reason.

"Well that was before the living tried to kill us and attack, almost raping Camille" Rick spat.

I cringed, shrinking away, my eyes once again on the floor. I was hoping I wasn't going to be bought into this. If the group decided to kill him because he was an outsider, what's them to stop and turn on me. They may have voted for me to stay but I still wasn't a part of the group, not completely. Whether I was to be banished or worse. No I hadn't shot at the group or had come to them in a hostile manner but I was still an outsider. I mean I still had a babysitter, so how long would it take for the group to finally trust me. Daryl squeezed my hip again.

"But we don't know if it was Randall or his group...So he's guilty by association?" Dale questioned. The room was silent. I knew people were looking at me but I wasn't about to look up.

"Well what about Camille?" I looked up terrified. Was I being thrown under the bus? "She came into our group, we voted her to stay, she's been an asset, who's to say Randall won't?" Dale rationalized.

So I was the test case.

I heard Shane snigger. "She hasn't been a fucking asset! Y'all debated whether she should stay. And it wasn't a short conversation. Even you had your piece to say old man!" Shane sneered to Dale, then shooting me a smug satisfied look. Anger and fear were bubbling up inside me. I wanted to punch the stupid look off his face. But if I did that I would more than likely end up sharing the shed with Randall. When they kill Randall, was I going to be next?

"Shane" Rick said. Shane just glared at him, then at me.

I was sick of listening to this. I turned and made a swift exit towards the front door, not looking to anyone as I did. Before I was out of earshot I heard Shane say "She ain't a part of our group, when will you people realise that."

I went straight to the tent. I sat down feeling numb. Maybe my position in the group wasn't that clear. I was shocked Dale would bring me up. This was supposed to be about Randall, I felt rail-roaded by it all. Should I pack my stuff and go or do I wait till the meeting is over, so the lynch mob can round me up.

I thought Dale and I got along pretty good, maybe Shane has been in his ear too. I sat there just looking at my bag, not moving, not making a sound. I was just numb.

I heard footsteps approach the tent. I figured it would be Daryl. I was surprised to see Dale there, a look of concern on his face.

"Do I have to leave?" I choked out.

He looked at me, pain in his eyes.

"I'm sorry..."

I cut him off, "Am I being locked up or do I have to leave?" I said holding back the tears.

He stepped forward placing a hand against my shoulder and looking into my eyes. "You're part of this group, no one is locking you up."

"Why did you single me out?" I said through my sobs.

"To try save Randall. I am sorry. I didn't mean to throw you into the shark's tank. Shane was the only one speaking against you, the rest of the group defended you. I said what I said with the best intentions. I'm sorry." he said quietly before turning and walking out.

I sat there a bit shocked. I had taken Dale's comments out of context but I still felt uneasy about the situation. Shane's comments didn't help either. I had stopped crying but I still sat there, going back to my numb state.

I heard footsteps approaching again.

"Just leave her be" Daryl called form a distance.

The footsteps stopped. I heard them grunt then stalk away.

Moments later Daryl stepped inside the tent. He looked me over, obviously evaluating my mental state. "You ok?" he asked crouching down in front of me.

"Felt like I was thrown under the bus back there" I said without emotion.

"Yeah shocked me too. Don't worry, nothin's happenin' to ya, won't let it" he said holding my gaze. There was a glimmer of something else in his eyes, concern, something more maybe.

Without thinking I leaned in and kissed him. He stiffened, surprised. My mind snapped me back and I pulled away quickly, looking down. Feeling like an idiot. "Fuck, sorry, I didn't think, I..." I stammered only to be pulled back, his lips crashing to mine. This time I was the one to freeze. It surprised me he had responded like this, I expected the opposite. He stopped waiting for me to respond. I brushed my lips against his and I felt him smirk. He responded instantly kissing me with such intensity. I wrapped my arms round his neck, one hand buried in his hair. His hands gripped my hips, pulling me tighter against him, his rough hands moving under my top, his touch setting my skin ablaze. A small moan escaping my lips as he caressed my skin. He smirked again, breaking the kiss, both of us trying to catch our breath. Then his mood shifted, he dropped his hands and moved away from me, his face looking angry, he looked away from me and quickly made his way out of the tent.

Fuck.

It had hurt me that he walked away but I didn't blame him. I shouldn't have done it in the first place. Fucking idiot, repeated over and over in my head. Pushing him, only pushes him away. Just when we were starting to get along I had to go and fuck it all up.

I looked at my bags, I repacked my backpack, putting the essential items in, in case I would need to make a quick exit. Packed a clean top, socks, underwear, meds, face cloth, ammo, dried goods, water bottle, torch, batteries, a lighter and my mini solar panel. I packed the rest into the other bags.

I put the bags against the tree outside, my bow resting against the tree.

I looked around and didn't see Daryl.

I walked over to the farmhouse, Rick was standing on the porch talking to Hershel. He saw me coming over, said something to Hershel then walked over to me.

"Camille, sorry..."

I cut him off, raising a hand. "I think I've overstayed my welcome here and I should move on. I just wanted to let you know so no one worries and you can tell them I left. And I would appreciate getting my weapons back" I said looking defeated.

Rick furrowed his brows at me, "You haven't over-stayed. You're part of the group. I'll sort out Shane. But if you want to leave, that's your choice but I would suggest waiting till morning, will be dark soon." he said looking defeated himself.

I glanced around, I hadn't realised how late it was in the day. I nodded. "In the morning then." I said turning back to the camp. I had said all I wanted. I noticed the washing on the line and quickly grabbed mine and Daryl's and bought them back to my bags. I folded them, placed Daryl's on his sleeping bag and packed mine into my bags. I sat up against the tree and grabbed my ipod, turning up the music loud and closing my eyes.